News Briefs for February 21, 2024
February 21, 2024•Justin Vineyards & Winery is expanding its lineup outside of Paso Robles for the first time with the debut of a Sonoma County Chardonnay ($38) and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($46). Both wines will be rolling out nationwide in March. In addition, Justin recently unveiled a new look for its Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé. It includes larger eye-catching logos and provides more cohesive branding across the portfolio. Justin was up 6% to 455,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Juggernaut Wines, part of the Bogle Family Wine Collection, has added a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to its range. The brand’s inaugural 2023 vintage of the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is available now on its website and at retail nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $16. The first imported wine in the Juggernaut lineup, it joins existing offerings Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, Russian River Pinot Noir, and Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Juggernaut crossed 300,000 cases last year, roughly doubling in size since 2020, according to Impact Databank.
•Edrington has announced The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey, its latest single malt Scotch whisky celebrating the brand’s estate and its surrounding environment. The release, the second in the collection, is bottled at 44.8% abv and blended from a selection of sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, as well as refill casks, and carries a suggested price of $487 a bottle. River Spey is now available for pre-order through the brand’s website. Each bottle comes with three art prints by Michelle Lucking.
•Clase Azul is launching Mezcal San Luis Potosí. The new entry joins Clase Azul’s two existing mezcals, Mezcal Durango and Mezcal Guerrero. Each mezcal in the portfolio draws inspiration from a particular Mexican state. The new San Luis Potosí expression is made with green agave (Agave salmiana), a variety native to the semi-desert slopes and plains of the region. It’s bottled at 43% abv and retails at $370 for a 1-liter decanter.
•Beckstoffer Vineyards has created a new subsidiary to manage all non-farming aspects of the business. Beckstoffer holds nearly 4,000 acres of agricultural land across Napa, Mendocino, and the Red Hills of Lake County. The company has tapped industry veteran Brian Hilliard—formerly executive vice president of Jackson Family Wines’ Artisan and Estates group and head of marketing for Constellation Brands’ luxury portfolio and Treasury Wine Estates imports—as president and COO of the new unit. He’ll work closely with Dave Michul, who continues to lead the farming portion of the business. Both Hilliard and Michul report to chairman Andy Beckstoffer.
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